NFL

[Macca 16,173]

17 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

The face mask call was easy to miss and really it's the kind of call that the game is better to miss. QB's don't deserve extra protection when out running and copping incidental contact that is no risk of injury and doesn't impede them. 

If you can't even see it from the behind angle and he isn't hampered at all then it's probably not a big deal.

 

The later non call is far worse because it was at least 2 penalties! Helmet to helmet as well as the interference. Plus it would've ended the game and that means the ref was probably afraid to make the call. Anyway, should be review-able as it would be an easy call.

I agree the face mask calls are often rather innocuous but they have been red-hot on calling that type of infringement all year especially when it comes to the QB's.  So the call on Goff should have been made same as the later pass-interference call on the Saints WR.

From a technical standpoint the face-mask call on Goff had to be called.  A penalty is a penalty regardless of whether we believe it should be called or not. 

I have the same type of attitude towards the 'Around the Neck' call in footy - most of the those types of frees paid should never be paid as most of the contact is innocuous & incidental.  But it is what it is and we have to put up with it. 

There was a roughing the passer against Brady that was totally innocuous but none-the-less, a 15 yard penalty was paid against KC for the softest of contact.  Again, the rules are the rules.  I don't like it as much as you do.

The NFL needs to look at its own rules and make them as bullet-proof as possible.  The over-zealous over-protection of the QB's would be a good place to start.

And why would Andy Reid give the ball to Brady to start the match?  Now there is some highly questionable play calling!  Shouldn't one do the opposite to what the opposition wants?  Or is that too old school?

Edited January 21, 2019 by Macca

[DeeSpencer 23,061]

51 minutes ago, Macca said:

 

And why would Andy Reid give the ball to Brady to start the match?  Now there is some highly questionable play calling!  Shouldn't one do the opposite to what the opposition wants?  Or is that too old school?

The Pats almost always defer to the other team in order to start the 2nd half. So I think they were doing what the Pats didn't want. Clearly they hadn't factored in letting the Pats run all over them for an easy score.

Poor Big Red, today I'm thinking he's the best bad coach in the league for his handling of the last 3 minutes. You just can't give Brady the ball back with 2 minutes and 3 time outs. It's suicide. They had to find a way to kill clock and score with under a minute left. 

And no time out in overtime to at least give your D a brief rest and try to come up with a goal line stand?

Masterful play caller and great culture guy but in an ideal world he's the offensive coordinator to a great head coach. That ideal world is New England I guess.

[Macca 16,173]

41 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

The Pats almost always defer to the other team in order to start the 2nd half. So I think they were doing what the Pats didn't want. Clearly they hadn't factored in letting the Pats run all over them for an easy score.

Poor Big Red, today I'm thinking he's the best bad coach in the league for his handling of the last 3 minutes. You just can't give Brady the ball back with 2 minutes and 3 time outs. It's suicide. They had to find a way to kill clock and score with under a minute left. 

And no time out in overtime to at least give your D a brief rest and try to come up with a goal line stand?

Masterful play caller and great culture guy but in an ideal world he's the offensive coordinator to a great head coach. That ideal world is New England I guess.

Well,  you're probably right re the Pats deferring but from the KC point of view,  they were virtually allowing the Pats to score first in a NFC Championship game.  And the Pats score TD's and they do it early. 

And the KC defense is not well renowned.  Regular season - 31st in yards allowed,  31st in passing yards allowed,  27th in rushing yards allowed and 24th in points allowed.  That's ugly.   And they give the ball to Brady first up. 

The Pats have also got chips on their shoulders and they have mastered the 'Us against Them' factor to the nth degree ... you give them the ball first up and they're insulted.  KC were asking for trouble with that move. 

Ultimately,  winning the toss in overtime won the game for New England but only because they are always capable of scoring a TD with relative ease.

The Pats have mastered the art of controlling the game on their terms - even at the toss of the coin at the start of the game they can't lose.  That's how good they are.  Belichick is an absolute genius and is easily the best coach in any sport right now - probably all time. 

Edited January 21, 2019 by Macca

[Gorgoroth 12,307]

9 hours ago, JV7 said:

All the best Gorg, for more than a fleeting moment I thought I could taste the success in SB51 & it was sweet, could only imagine what it's really like...

I'll be rooting for your boys! Fingers crossed you can do what we couldn't & knock those Pats off (preferably come from 29-3 down to win) ?

Don’t think my heart will take that ha ha

[Gorgoroth 12,307]

Rams to wear the throw back uniforms!!! \m/

[layzie 28,523]

18 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Ok, so my heart rate is finally under 100 ?

 

Pumped with the results, the Saints looked awesome early and our offence looked terrible, Gurley dropping everything and Goff looking like a deer in headlights.

But we turned it around and Goff settles well and Greg the leg got it done twice!

But the game was won by our D. 

Got lucky on the non call late in the game, and that will be the talking point forever, but I thought Donald and co should have received a few holding calls in their favour. But as Macca always says, some go your way, some not, but at home you usually get the rub of the green. Ref obviously also thought this was Rams house! 

 

Enjoy it mate! It's gonna be an exciting 2 weeks for you. Congrats!

[layzie 28,523]

27 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

Rams to wear the throw back uniforms!!! \m/

Hell yeah, greatest show on turf!

[Gorgoroth 12,307]

Would not have picked this prior to the playoffs...

http://bleacherreport.com/post/los-angeles-rams/c590f207-773f-4b0e-a0a2-c3c6071f6bb6

[Gorgoroth 12,307]

Chiefs fire their DC. 

D Ford lining up in the neutral zone will be in this Andy Reid’s nightmares for a fair while.

[Gorgoroth 12,307]

Larry Fitz to return! I thought he might retire.

Cant see the cards rising too dramatically this coming season. 

[titan_uranus 22,220]

I am truly sick of seeing the Pats succeed but they deserve utmost respect. What they have been able to do in a league which is designed to stop them doing it is incredible. They have an uncanny knack for scoring touchdowns right when they need them.

On 1/23/2019 at 11:57 AM, Gorgoroth said:

Chiefs fire their DC. 

D Ford lining up in the neutral zone will be in this Andy Reid’s nightmares for a fair while.

That was brutal. 

The roughing the passer call on Brady was shocking, too. But ultimately the only time KC's defence was able to make a stop was when Ford ruined it. 

[Gorgoroth 12,307]

4 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

I am truly sick of seeing the Pats succeed but they deserve utmost respect. What they have been able to do in a league which is designed to stop them doing it is incredible. They have an uncanny knack for scoring touchdowns right when they need them.

That was brutal. 

The roughing the passer call on Brady was shocking, too. But ultimately the only time KC's defence was able to make a stop was when Ford ruined it. 

I felt for Ford as he has been super all year but this sort of penalties are killers at the best of times.  It the D did let Brady get 3 successive 3 and long 1st downs in a row.

[Macca 16,173]

What an odd scoreline in the Pro Bowl.

Anyone watch it? 

[Gorgoroth 12,307]

Nah hardly ever watch it. Not a fan of it.

[Clintosaurus 6,411]

A walkthrough has more intensity.

[JV7 2,339]

Gorg, for the love of god can your boys knock off the Pats... Brady's constant whinging about doubters & hatters is wearing seriously thin... STFU you moron

[Gorgoroth 12,307]

2 hours ago, JV7 said:

Gorg, for the love of god can your boys knock off the Pats... Brady's constant whinging about doubters & hatters is wearing seriously thin... STFU you moron

Hope so! Not happy about Robey-Coleman’s comments about Brady, it’s nothing but counter productive.

[Macca 16,173]

The Pro Bowl attracted 8 Million TV viewers ... the wild-card & divisional playoff games attracted an average of 5 Million viewers per game. 

Only in America.

[Gorgoroth 12,307]

Such low numbers for a big population 

[Macca 16,173]

4 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Such low numbers for a big population 

What the numbers say is that a large percentage of Americans have no interest in the NFL.

We get a false picture over here.   But NFL's minority is still colossal in pure numbers.

[Go the Biff 3,124]

OK - I'll go first

 

Pats 38 - 31

[Dee Zephyr 17,313]

Pats 24 - Rams 30

[Gorgoroth 12,307]

Ok.

Here is my Super Bowl tip.

Rams need to shut down the run that will lead to getting to Brady, can’t b3 beaten by what we know, Edelman across the middle, front down the side for 8-12yrds

Gurley gets 100 yards and we win.

 

Pats 24 - Rams 27

AD with 3 sacks, Gurley 100+ yards and Natson with a return TD.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Pats 35 - Rams 28

[Macca 16,173]

My tip ... Rams 29  Pats 28

Paging @DeeSpencer  @Clintosaurus  @JV7  @DemonDave  @titan_uranus  @WERRIDEE  @layzie  @Dr. Gonzo 

Remembering that we play for 5 points in this,  the final week.  Made up of 3 points for the correct winner and a bonus 2 points for your winning team's score being within 3 points of the winning team's actual score.  The losing team's score has no bearing.

e.g. If the Rams win and their score is 26-32  then I'd pick up a total of 5 points for nominating the Rams as the winner (with a score of 29 points)  Now that I've used my score as the example you can rest assured that that won't happen.  The advanced jinx.

Only 3 people have a chance of winning but podium places are up for grabs.  The honour board eagerly awaits your presence.

Good luck all and go Rams!!

Leaderboard - Post-Season Tipping Comp 

• 12 - Gorgoroth
• 8 - Go the Biff
• 7 - DeeSpencer
• 6 - Clintosaurus,  Dappa Dan
• 5 - Dee Zephyr,  Macca
• 4 - JV7
• 3 - DemonDave
• 1 - titan_uranus
• 0 - TWSNBN